He did it! Joaquin Phoenix won the Best Actor award at this year’s Oscars for his performance in Todd Phillips’ Joker.
He was up against tough opposition, but he’s been cleaning up this awards season.
He’s won all the big awards for Best Actor in 2020.
He’s won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA and now the Oscar.
That’s a pretty impressive hat trick for the actor and a pretty big endorsement for his performance in Joker.
His speech was also something to behold and he called out Hollywood for being so predominantly white and male.
He called them out for not giving minorities their chance to tell their stories and criticised the Oscars’ lack of diversity.
Here are a few snippets from his acceptance speech:
I’m full of so much gratitude now. I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees or anyone in this room, because we share the same love – that’s the love of film. And this form of expression has given me the most extraordinary life. I don’t know where I’d be without it.
Joaquin Pheonix delivered an impactful speech at the Oscars
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker – Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Read more: Could Joaquin Phoenix Be The Second Actor To Win An Oscar For Playing The Joker?
Phoenix then went on to talk about gender inequality.
I think at times we feel or are made to feel that we champion different causes. But for me, I see commonality. I think, whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice.
Joaquin ended his speech by getting very personal and spoke of how people in the industry have given him a second chance.
I have been a scoundrel all my life, I’ve been selfish. I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. I think that’s when we’re at our best: when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for our past mistakes, but when we help each other to grow. When we educate each other; when we guide each other to redemption.
Joaquin Phoenix then finished his acceptance speech for his Best Actor Oscar win, by referencing his deceased brother, River Phoenix.
When he was 17, my brother [River] wrote this lyric. He said: “run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.
It was a very moving speech from the Joker actor, yet he’s been delivering very impactful speeches this whole awards season.
Phoenix was up again Antonio Banderas (Pain & Glory), Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Adam Driver (Marriage Story) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes).
Did you think that Joaquin Phoenix deserved to win the Oscar for Best Actor?
What did you think of his acceptance speech?
Let us know in the comments below.
What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook or Instagram pages!
And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out Small Screen Radio wherever you get your podcasts!
There are no comments
Add yours